lunaecalamitas | thousand dreams, lotus boats upon the waters

thousand dreams, lotus boats upon the waters

NEW MOON ADAGIO

Between the constant requests from the North and the sense of tension that pervades the manor, Sage Tatara makes an executive decision: we're going North, baby.

Of all the things that have happened thus far, let this be the ultimate test of your magic. Even as we near summer, it's frigid. Protect yourselves and your allies from the cold. Protect yourselves while also fighting off monsters (or other territorial wizards, should you make the terrible mistake of wandering into another's territory), flying through the vast wilderness, or protecting the poor humans who need your help to survive. Time to blow off some of your steam. Just be sure to obey Tatara's one rule: don't kill each other.

One particular problem of note is in the Forest of Dreams. Without its guardian, many of these rogue monsters and dangerous predators, displaced from their normal habitats, have found their way into the forest. Many of them, however, are unable to survive against the fatal toxin, and there are plenty of animal corpses and mana stones that litter the forest. It might be best to clean these up before the forest guardian returns...

That said, the toxin is yet another thing you must protect yourself against in addition to the cold. While you can likely keep yourself from dying from the toxins, you may not be immune to its effects. This deadly toxin causes anyone who breathes it in to dream and hallucinate vividly, be it images of the past, imagined futures, thoughts of the present processed and warped...

Strangely enough, those nearby may end up sharing in your dreams... Did you want the darkest recesses of your thoughts, hopes, and fears unearthed for others to see?

Those who decide to venture far past the more populated (in relative terms) parts of the North may find themselves stumbling upon what looks to be an abandoned bandit hideout. It seems it's been abandoned for quite a while—nothing to loot here, sorry!—but there sure are a whole lot of monsters that have decided to make this hidden corner of the North their home.

While you're at it, you may find a nearby cave. Beautiful crystals dot the walls and the floors, and there are small pools of hot spring water free for relaxing. It seems to be relatively free of monsters, too. So maybe this wouldn't be a bad spot to relax, away from everything else?

However, there's one thing that makes this cave truly unique, and it isn't the vistas or the springs—it's the bats. These bats hear echoes of the past and replay them for visitors. Should you stay a while and listen, a bat may pay you a visit. And when it does, it may play for you the voices from the memories of visitors past, whose stories may hold a clue or two to your circumstances...

While the Forest of Dreams is a memory/dreamshare free for all, the aural memories replayed by the bats in the Cave of Time will come from one of the original wizards only. If you'd like an audio replay of a perhaps significant moment either in their personal life or a clue as to what happened to them (it will be randomized), then please reply to this comment!

JOB BOARD

Clean-up and repairs. While thanks to the hard work of your Eastern friends the worst was prevented, the City of Rain emerged from their short ordeal a little worse for wear.

Buildings need repair, blood needs to be cleaned off the streets, the injured need help. This is, perhaps, the only time you will be allowed to use magic openly in the city (you've been given permits and everything!), but you still are not allowed to talk outside of designated zones. Please, please don't get arrested...

As for the scrap that litters the streets? Unfortunately, you'll have to take it back to the scrapyard. But this time, there's a big, roaring bonfire out there. Just chuck all the scrap and debris in the fire. The city isn't taking any second chances—extreme situations call for extreme measures.

Reverence. Several Northern villages are currently outside the protection of a wizard, and have requested the sage's wizards' presence. They're terrified of the monsters and worried the barriers for their villages will fail sooner than later. They don't simply ask for help for free, however, and these smaller villages are steeped in their tradition—they'll pay you their respects, praying to you, offering you gifts, groveling at your feet, in hopes for a modicum of your time and protection. Do their offerings please you? Then assist them with what you deem appropriate for their worship to you: kill a few monsters for them, or a lot if you're pleased. Strengthen the barrier a lot, or not at all if you're displeased. It's up to you! You have the power here. What's it like to be a god for a day?

Ladies' night. The monthly lady officers' gathering is coming up in the City of Affluence—it's an exclusive meetup for the women involved in and related to Western military and bureaucratic affairs. Anyone is welcome, so long as they meet two requirements: they are outwardly presenting feminine, and they have an invitation to the gathering. Here's your chance to flex your transformation and glamour spells! Infiltrate the meetup with a disguise and a fake invitation, mingle, enjoy the drinks, the jazz, the entertainment, and find out what you can... What's the Western army up to? Be careful, though—don't get caught and kicked out!

The attendees seem to be excited about the new phantasmagoria technology and the upcoming display, and many whisper about the upcoming Venator meteor shower...

G'RAHA TASKS

Greetings, new friends! I am G'raha Tia, and while I hesitate to call myself a mentor or a replacement for the one you had, I am eternally grateful for the assistance I received and will do my best to help your cause in any way I can. To that end, I feel I may need to be caught up to speed on the events and get to know all of you.

We can have some tea and sandwiches and have a discussion! That's the best way to learn, sometimes.

TATARA ACTIVITIES

Even if we're not here for very long, I think we should leave our mark (not literally! Don't paint on the walls!). I got paint and big paper in the dining hall, but no brushes... Do you know what that means? Finger paint! Finger paint a portrait of yourself with your name and I'll hang it up in the library when they're all done!

Thanks to Cid and Khun, my camcorder works now. The thing is, what's the point of filming anything if we have no way to watch the film?! Could you guys work together to make some kind of projector? Or like...VHS player? We could have a movie night together!

OOC NOTES

🌙 Welcome to your fourth event! It's your dreamshare and memshare event! Ready to open up with your deepest and darkest secrets?
🌙 We're halfway through the game. How do you feel?
🌙 Back at the manor, Kurapika and Maya have set up a bulletin board! Leave comments, argue with your neighbors, have fun. Be nice. Don't set it on fire.
🌙 On the admin side of things, Lav has swapped out Wanderer for G'raha! Please say hello to your new mentor NPC.
🌙 Your OOC plotting post is here! Remember to keep all wider plotting to the post, and remember to check back frequently, since not everyone checks plurk or discord all the time.
🌙 The next country to go on their mission is North. Do you think a PVP-enabled mission will go well?

» NAVIGATION

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ khun can make a guess based on this forest and that night at that bar against his own memories. and he wants to know, he really does, but like this feels closer to an intrusion to him, like the camcorder was.

he stops in turn, the clear blue of his eyes searching. ]

Do you want to go that way? [ he just wants to make sure. ]

Edited 2024-05-21 19:57 (UTC)

[ Tatara looks at Khun, his face almost entirely blank—but he'll know by now that this is the closest he gets, in some circumstances, to an earnest expression.

He nods. With every inhale the smell grows stronger, and the nostalgia aches. ]

Can we?

[ he doesn't trust this forest, but there's probably nothing he would deny his boyfriend at this point. there's a quick cast, silent to release his lighthouse, invisible to everyone but him in case he needs it. ]

Okay. But don't let go of my hand. [ his grip tightens and he walks forward into the sweet, yet acrid smell of smoke. ]

I won't.

[ In the pause that follows, he squeezes Khun's hand, stares at him. He knows the forest is dangerous, logically; he knows Khun is the only one here right now that can keep him safe. He won't get go. He'd know by now, by the look in his eyes, that it's all written there.

He turns and walks alongside him, following the sweet waft of home. He holds Khun's hand tight, like he's nervous, like he's afraid of losing him when he peeks back into a glimpse of the past.

He pushes back a thick patch of brush to continue through the trees, but it has a weight to it. There comes the chime of a little bell, and all of a sudden, the world around them changes. The brush is now a door, and before them is the spacious interior of a western-style pub. The afternoon sun streams through the windows, and the building is empty, save a lone man in sunglasses and a red scarf cleaning glasses behind the bar as he smokes.

"Hey, Totsuka," he drawls, and pauses when he glances up at the two. That is, indeed, a raised eyebrow behind the shades. "Didn't know ya had friends 'sides us."

Tatara grins at Khun, then drags him towards the bar. ]

[ when he's like this, few expressions filter onto khun's face—they don't generally have a space for when he's making calculation after calculation, weighing the odds cleanly in his mind. here though, when he sees the man with red scarf and sunglasses, something almost slips through. (he had known tatara was in costume that night, but seeing that man in front of him after the rest of what happened that evening—well he's glad for his poker face.)

he manages a small smile, a touch droll, and lets himself get dragged over. he's not sure if he's supposed to speak given where they are, so he opts for a belated wave in greeting instead. ]

I do now. Isn't it strange how things work out?

[ The man at the bar nods at Khun when he waves. Tatara gently leads the both of them to the bar, where he takes a stool. He sighs. It's been a really long time since he sat in these seats, and if it weren't for the hand in his, he'd feel like he never left.

The chime on the door rings again as it's thrown open, and a group of young men that look no different from common street thugs begin to file in. "Yo, Kusanagi," "'Sup, Totsuka," they greet as they begin to congregate at the large table in the corner. Tatara smiles over his shoulder and gives a little wave. Soon the bar is full of life and noise as they laugh and chatter.

His eyes rest on Khun. ] This is Bar Homra, Aguero. I used to spend all of my time here.

This— [ He gestures to the man behind the counter. ] Is Kusanagi-san. My friend I told you about.

[ Kusanagi nods in greeting and asks Khun, "What can I get for ya?" ]

[ the atmosphere isn't to his style, but even khun can admit it has it's own sort of charm. usually he spends his time in the opposite type of venue, but there have been occasions where business is better conducted in a more natural locale.

he's getting big FUG vibes and if he knew of his future, it'd probably make him feel a Ways but for now, ignorance is bliss. not that he's letting his guard down any, but it does help him make the transition to a friendlier facade. or at least it would be that if tatara hadn't looked at him, since there is a note of sincerity to his expression that persists even when he turns to answer Kusanagi.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Khun. I'll take a Moscow Mule."

he could order an old fashioned to compare, but khun already knows which one would be his favorite anyway. ]

It's lively, as any good bar should be. Where's your couch?

[ As Kusanagi turns away to start making Khun's drink, Tatara points over his shoulder. There's the couch, by a low table, facing the window and the rays of the setting sun as they filter in. ]

That used to be my favorite nap spot. [ It looks warm, and cozy. And just big enough for Tatara to curl up on it—likely, at this point, it's easy for Khun to picture the sight.

With a quiet tap, their drinks are placed in front of them. For Khun, his Moscow mule, and for Tatara, a glass of orange juice. With a word of thanks to Kusanagi and a smile, he takes his cup and moves to get up. ]

Do you wanna sit there?

Sure. [ khun can definitely picture it. he'll never view a couch as cozy himself, but he can easily see tatara thinking of it that way. he grabs his drink briefly wondering if hallucinogens can imitate drunkeness, but thankfully he had a real meal before they left so he's fine either way.

to the couch! still holding hands as they are. ]

I couldn't sleep in here. [ ostensibly at the pleasant chatter, but also in the presence of so many people. ] Is this HOMRA's base?

[ Tatara isn't thinking about where they really are. He may as well be back home, and if it weren't for Khun's hand, he would have lost himself entirely.

As he sits, he places his orange juice on the table. ]

It is. [ He sighs, clearly missing the place. He eases into the couch, his shoulder nestled comfortably against Khun's. ] A hangout spot for a couple of friends became the base of operations for the Third and Red King and his clan...

[ Bathed in the afternoon rays, Tatara tilts his head to look up at Khun, a strange mix of emotion on his face. ]

I hope you like him.

Do you? [ his own expression is also hard to read. how khun views the world and how khun views those connected to his lights are entirely different. he's been through this before, though he's never been entangled in this way until now.

he takes a sip of his drink and then sets it down on the table. ]

Well I'm looking forward to meeting him.

[ Does he? Tatara only smiles, a smile he's never really worn before. It's fond, if a little sad. His king was his everything...and now he lives a different life. What sort of answer does one draw from that?

He breathes to answer, but is quickly cut off by the quick patter of light footsteps coming down the stairs behind the bar. A genuine smile crosses Tatara's face as he leans to look past Khun.

"Tatara."

It's a little girl's voice, quiet and deadpan. She rushes past Khun—dressed in black and red frills, hair white, eyes red, not much older than ten—and launches herself at Tatara. He catches her with his free arm, pulling her into a tight hug with a light laugh. ]

Anna...

[ "Tatara. You're back." ]

I am. But only for a little bit.

[ He squeezes Aguero's hand. Because he's still here, and he won't lose himself in this.

He turns to his boyfriend. ]

This is Anna. [ He holds her tighter, for just a brief second, before letting her go. ] She was our little princess.

[ The girl turns to look at Khun, and nods. She pulls out a red marble from her pocket and holds it up to her eye, and stares at him through it. ]

[ he doesn't really have time to wonder about what baam and maria would think, which is for the better, honestly. though somewhere in the back of his mind he wonders if their positions will be reversed before they can leave this forest. things he'll quietly worry about while juggling everything else. at least he's always been good at multi-tasking.

anna might not be a princess of zahard, but from the second he sees her, khun can see she's fitting of the title. there's a certain way princesses hold themselves across the universes it seems, and he smiles, gentle and nostalgic. even still, there's no delay in him squeezing back, letting his thoughts refocus again.

he gives anna a friendly wave to go with the smile. ]

My name's Khun. Red and blue make purple, I hear. [ that might be a very rare dig at himself, or maybe it's just appreciation for the way his boyfriend sees things—the smile he throws his way certainly seems to suggest the latter. ]

Every family needs a princess.

[ Anna remains silent for a moment, but she does lower her marble when Khun says that. There's no obvious change in her epxression—she doesn't even blink—but she does draw her shoulders up slightly.

Tatara chuckles lightly, and turns to Aguero to speak in a low voice. ] That made her happy.

[ Anna raises her marble to her eye again and continues to stare at Aguero.

"You're not red," she says, her voice flat and emotionless. "But you're not bad."

Tatara squeezes his hand again. He forgets that this is very likely just a product of his own mind. But to see Anna, in any form, giving approval to Aguero is more than enough for him.

He doesn't move to react to the sound of slower, heavier footsteps coming down the steps, though. ]

[ "Thank you." It's a compliment he knows, but one he'll try not to think about beyond face value. He thinks about the size of the forest again, and knows he's not nervous but—thought for later, and he pushes them to the side once again. ]

Good, she deserves to be. [ ...maybe his soft spot for familial princesses of a certain nature is also showing through.

khun does hear the footsteps, but he doesn't react to them, at least physically. mentally he's already speeding ahead, but in this world he's decided to take cues from tatara. ]

Edited 2024-05-25 01:39 (UTC)

[ Aguero's approval in turn warms Tatara's heart. To see him treating her so kindly does a lot to ease the faint bit of nerves he feels at the approaching footsteps.

Which reach the bottom of the stairs and lazily make their way over to the couch. Tatara leans back, and looks up wide-eyed at their new guest.

His king.

He's very tall, lean with muscle, much like Aguero. His bright red hair has been wildly pushed back, golden eyes sit fixed on Tatara, and a cigarette rests lazily between his lips.

Tatara smiles, but it's not the bright, innocent type Aguero is met with when they run into each other. There's a sadness to it, a hint of guilt. ]

Hey.

[ There's a short pause before the taller man pulls his hand from his pocket and lightly bonks Tatara on the head with his fist.

"Where the hell've you been?" he asks, his voice is low, gravelly, lazy. One that, even with an offhand comment like this, commands respect. Tatara chuckles quietly, perhaps a way to mask his nerves. Aguero can tell, by the way he clenches his hand. ]

On a little trip. I... [ He breathes, surprised by the words he first finds. ] ...don't know if I can stay.

[ "...I see."

He disengages, and begins to round the couch to the other one that sits opposite theirs. When he does, Tatara turns to look at Aguero, smile small. ]

That's my king. Mikoto Suoh.

[ When the redhead takes his spot on the couch opposite, it seems only then that he realizes Aguero is there. His golden eyes turn to rest on him, and he stares. ]

[ ...this is the second time this has happened and much like the first, khun doesn't know what exactly to think. he quickly comes to the conclusion that he doesn't need to understand; that's the nature of his bias with those he cherishes. but of course he's curious and of course he's going to continue to analyze even it's thoughts he mostly keeps to himself.

mikoto is a relatively new variable unlike rachel, khun knew about her from the beginning even if she wasn't anything like how baam had described her. and mikoto, who's name he's only just learned—khun can see a few similarities, one of which is physical even if their colors are inverted (he's gotten taller during his stay in this world, so it might be on his mind). the rest is vastly different, including the odd gesture, but it's not something he needs to understand anymore than he needed to understand why rachel was hypocritical in every word she spoke. they're important to who he loves and that's enough.

he lets those thoughts continue to float the top of his mind while he answers tatara, smile just as muted. it's not out of displeasure or any other negative emotion, he's just very On in the moment, which means it's harder to pull feelings from him. his boyfriend though always has a way of worming between the cracks, and it shows in the squeeze of their hands that he gives with the smile; solid, warm and secure. ]

I see. All the red makes sense now. [ it really does, mikoto is just very Red like khun is very Blue.

and to that man that now sits opposite them, khun returns the gaze. it's an acknowledgment not a challenge, "I see you too." khun is not a king, but he's only ever bowed to one other person in his life. ]

[ Tatara himself may never realize it, but their growing physical similarities might be a reason why he finds himself more and more torridly attracted to Khun—

With a little chuckle, his expression eases, and the smile finally reaches his eyes. ]

Doesn't it? [ Tatara had been blank once, only to be dyed red. And now his red is turning a bright, vivid violet.

Before he can say anything else, Mikoto speaks up. "Where did you find this guy?" It's not said with malice, or any sort of spite. It's a lazy drawl, a cat opening its eyes and turning to look at a new person in its space. He pulls the cigarette from his lips, and smoke drifts to the ceiling. ]

On my trip.

[ Tatara turns to look at Mikoto, and gives him a little smile, too. It's the exact kind of smile he gave Khun when he told him he was content to give up and face the end of his life, on that day they sat on a couch like this, and told one another how much they loved each other.

Before anyone else can do anything, Anna moves. She seems to have come to a conclusion—she lowers her red marble from her eye to look straight at Khun.

"He loves you."

The declaration is plain, an observation if anything, and Tatara goes red. This might be a dream, but he's still surprised. His eyes dart from Anna, to Khun, to Mikoto. Ah... ]

[ seeing that smile again—it brings aguero back to that night on the couch, the torrent of those feelings washing over him again. they're still heavy even if most of them have settled over him like a weighted blanket, a mass that should weigh him down but is somehow comforting instead. one of his fingers moves within their hold, making gentle stroking motions against his boyfriend's skin.

at least it means he's not completely caught offguard when anna blurts out what is the simple truth. that word and them is still brand new, so the tips of his ears color even if the rest of him doesn't. but with a breath he's able to say- ]

Yeah, I do. [ to all of them, the past, the present, and the future. he finally turns to tatara after the declaration, giving just him a brief glimpse of how he feels underneath all his layers with a demure smile. ]

[ Tatara's eyes soften when he hears it back, and his eyes slowly drift back to Khun. When their colors meet, his own eyes soften, but give way to the quiet turbulence underneath. His heart hurts in ways he didn't think was possible—for his present with Khun, for his past with Mikoto, for the unknowable future.

He doesn't know how long he holds Khun's gaze, but he's drawn out of it when Mikoto gives a low huff of an amused snort. "I see."

He leans forward, bringing his cigarette to his lips again.

"Totsuka."

Tatara turns to look at him, and his shoulders rise with his breath.

"When are you coming back?"

The question catches him by surprise, and he seems to freeze in place. He stares at his king, expression blank and unreadable. Thoughts roll through his mind, of the path he's walked these past few months, of the memories and rituals he keeps to his chest, of the people he's met and the things he's done and how his colors have changed and still change.

He gives a small, sad smile. ]

I don't think I am. [ He says this, out loud. It feels different to declaring acceptance for his death, but it does feel like a small part of him is moving on.

This might be a dream, maybe he's talking to himself, ultimately, but he speaks what's on his mind, just in the small, small chance that Mikoto Suoh is actually listening to him. ]

That's why I just wanted to drop by, and check in on you. I'm glad to see you're all okay. [ His gaze sweeps over the bar, from Mikoto to Anna to Kusanagi to the guys playing on the other side of the room. His eyes rest eventually on Khun. ] I wanted to show Khun where I came from, so he knows where to go.

[ "I see," says Mikoto, again, who stares long and hard at Khun. It's hard to tell what he's thinking, his expression almost as blank as Anna's. But when he breathes out his smoke, he says to Khun:

"Take care of him. I just hope he's not too much of a pain in the ass." ]

[ where to go...there's only one direction, isn't there? there's only been one for a while now. but it helps to have lights to guide him on the way, even if he's still not sure of what he's going to find at the end.

beyond that, he's genuinely happy that tatara has people who he cared for, but more than that, cared for him back. that's what family is supposed to be like, isn't it? (he wouldn't know, but he doesn't need to understand) family and those others you hold dear.

he turns to face mikoto when he's spoken to, blue to red. in some ways they're similar and in other ways they're nothing alike at all. but indubitably, he knows that tatara totsuka has a place just for himself in both their hearts. ]

I will. And even if he is, I can handle it. [ he knows there will be times, but that's honestly part of his boyfriend's charm. ]

Whatever he needs, I'll give it to him on my name of Khun Aguero Agnis. [ again for the room, though his eyes, bright, blue, and irrepressible find coral and rest there, like it's where they belong. ]

[ "Good."

That's all the Red King says. He leans back in his seat, and closes his eyes.

Mikoto is honest, like Khun. A pain in the ass isn't an insult, it's just a fact, a reflection of the world through a king's eyes. Tatara trusts that view. And that Khun sees it, accepts it for what it is, and does not argue (or vehemently agree), has Tatara feel something else in his heart lock into place. He hears Khun speak his full name and he's so—overwhelmed. He doesn't know what to think, his heart handing himself from one king to another.

When Khun looks at him, he'll see the emotion swirling in his eyes. But he quickly brightens in a little smile, a quiet huff of contentment escaping his lips.

"Tatara," Anna speaks again and turns to look at him. Tatara keeps the smile on his face and reaches to gently pat her on the head. ]

I know. I'll miss you too, Anna.

[ In the years watching her grow up, he knows the slight shift in her expression means she's sad. Ah, it's a hard look to bear—he holds Khun's hand tighter, because he's trying to keep himself together. He hopes Anna never made this face in real life, without him there...

Tatara turns to Mikoto. ]

King—

[ Except the dream begins to fade. The afternoon sun filtering through the windows of Bar Homra grow in brightness, and the scene around them takes on a warm, but faded sepia hue. The sounds mute, movements slow to a halt, and soon, all that's left around them is the Forest of Dreams.

... ]

[ khun slowly settles back into the real world, looking out at the sea of trees around them. they haven't really gone anywhere at all, but in a land of magic do they really need to in order for it to be real?

he looks over at tatara, glances down at their still joined hands and lets out a sigh of relief. they're still together. ]

Are you cold? [ tatara's still likely huddled up against him anyway, but this his way of asking if he wants a hug. ]

[ In the few seconds that follow the fading of the scene, Tatara stares ahead, like Mikoto still sits in front of him. His mouth is still open, the half-formed words on his tongue dying in the cold of the North.

Khun's words draw him back, and he looks to him. The expression on his face is...complicated.

Wordlessly, he steps into Khun's space and wraps his arms around his middle. He presses his face into the side of his neck, squeezing his eyes shut.

So, yes. The answer is yes. ]

I... [ He sighs, breath shaky. ] I've never felt warmer in my life...

[ He's just. Overwhelmed. ]

[ he wraps his arms around tatara snugly, holding him tight against him. ]

Yeah? That means that jacket is worth all of the feathers they stuffed into it then, good. [ a little bit of a joke, he's not honestly great at comfort because it was never given to him. ]

I'm happy I got to meet them. [ in whatever way it was, he's still immensely grateful. ]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject